Spring-motor.



No. 638,85l. Patented Dec. l2, I899.

J. B. POWELL.

SPRING MOTOR.

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1898. Renewed June 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ma i

ATTORNEY.

m: NORRIS PEYERS 00.. PHOYO-LITHO WASHINGTON. 0.1:.

JOHN B. POWELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLUMBIA MOTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEIV JERSEY.

SPRING-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 638,851, dated December 12, 1899. Application filed September 25, 1896. Renewed June 17,1899. Serial No. 720,983. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN B. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring-Motors, Whichimprovemcnt is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a motor formed of a compound spring constructed of two or more boxes, a shaft for each box, a spring connected with each shaft and box, and means for coupling the shafts one with the other,whereby the coiling of a spring by the rotation of the shafts connected therewith causes the box thereof to rotate the shaft of the adjacent box, the springs being thus successively coiled, whereby when they are permitted to uncoil or unwind a prolonged power results, each box containing a single spring, and all of the boxes being independent of each other, While the springs are coiled in the same direction, so that the device may be readily built up and made long or short in a simple, convenient, and inexpensive manner, as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 represents a partial side elevation and partial section of a spring-motor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section on line a; as, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the primary winding-shaft,which is mounted on the bearings 13, the latter being supported in any suitable manner.

0 O designates heads, which are bolted together, forming a box, and have between them the coiled spring D, one end of which is secured to the shaft A, and the other end is secured to either of the bolts of said heads, as at B, it being noticed that the said shaft passes freely through the hub E of the head 0, then through the center of the spring D, with which it is connected, and reaches to the hub F, the end of the said shaft being provided with a projection or pin A, which, it will be noticed, is within the said hub F.

G designates the shaft of the next spring, the same having one end thereof in the hub F, with which it is connected by means of the pin or screw II, which is inserted in said hub and shaft, thus coupling or connecting said parts. The said shaft G is provided with a socket or seat G, into which the pin A is adapted to enter, whereby a firm support is provided at the junction of the shafts. The shaft G now passes freely through the hub J of the head K and then has one end of the spring L connected with it and reaches to the hub M, the end of said shaft near said hub having a pin G, which is within the said hub M, said heads K and N being bolted together, formingabox, and having the other end of the spring L secured to one of the bolts thereof.

P designates the shaft of the next spring, which has one end thereof in the hub M and has a socket or seat P, which is adapted to receive the pin G of the shaft G. The shaft P is connected by the pin or screw Q to the said hub M. The number of shafts, heads, and springs may be multiplied and coupled or connected, the .last shaft, as at It, being designed for transmitting the power of the springs to the place of service, it being seen that each box contains a single spring and is independent of the box containing the adjacent spring, and all .of the springs are coiled in the same direction, so that the device may be readily lengthened by adding more boxes with springs therein, properly locating their hubs on the projecting ends of the shafts of adjacent boxes, and then pinning the hubs to the end of the shafts opposite thereto.

The operation is as follows: The shaftAis rotated by a cranlohandle or other suitable means, whereby the spring D is wound on said shaft. When the coiling is sufficient to cause said spring to acquire power, the connected heads 0 O are rotated, whereby the 0 hub F, which is pinned or connected with the shaft G, rotates the latter, and thus the spring L is wound on said shaft G with the same result as before-viz. ,the rotating of the heads K N by said spring L and the transmission of rotation to the shaft P, owing to the hub M and pin Q-and so the operation continues throughout the series of springs, it being evident that when the springs unwind the power is imparted successively to the shaft B, and I00 thus a machine which is connected With the l shaft-sections, and the boxes, the boxes havshaft R by gearing, belting, &c. may be run I i-ng hubs on their heads, the hub on one head [5 for a long period of time. 1 of a box having a shaft-section freely enter- Having thus described my invention, What ing the same, and the adjacent shaft-section I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters being iinmovably secured, in the other hub Patent, isl on the opposite head of the same box, pins A spring-motor having coiled springs, secl passed through the hub into the said section, 20 tional shaft, and boxes, the inner end of one the springs being coiled in the same direction. spring being connected to a shaft-seotion, the l 7 T outer end of said spring being connected to Jon} POWVELL' a box, the end of adjacent shaft-section being fixed in one of the hubs of the said box, and so on through the series of springs, the i \Vitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, WM. 0. WIEDERSHEIM. 

